Study carrel



A. A. CANFIELD 3,276,399

STUDY CARREL Filed July 23, 1965 1N VENTOR.

XML/w ATTO/Q/VEV United States Patent 3,276,399 STUDY CARREL Albert A. Canfield, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor to Oakland Community College, Union Lake, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed July 23, 1965, Ser. No. 474,411 Claims. (Cl. 108-60) This invention relates to study carrels and more particularly to the type of study carrel utilized by a student for individual instruction.

It is becoming increasingly necessary, in educational technology, to take advantage of modern instructional devices in the education of students. One of these devices is the study cubicle, or carrel, which may be generally described as an individual study unit including a table top having side and rear walls enclosing three sides of the table top. Such a unit provides an enclosed space for a student to work, in a private manner, and avoids problems of outside distractions, allows for greater conoentration on the part of the student, and decreases disturbances to others.

The usual study carrel has an enclosure extending around three sides of the table top and completely enclosing the work space. Such complete enclosure offers numerous disadvantages in terms of optimum lighting, optimum sound absorption and in air circulation.

The device in which this invention is embodied cornprises, generally, a study carrel having a table top with side and rear walls extending upwardly therefrom, and with openings at the rearward corners between the side walls and the rear wall to avoid the absolute enclosure of the table top. Such open rear corners provide many structural advantages over the well known cubicle constructions. Sound absorption is improved in the sense that the entire ambient atmosphere is available through the corners for sound absonption. At the same time, echoes within the enclosure are eliminated. Lighting is better within the carrel, since the open rear corners eliminate shadows and glare, and at the same time provide more uniform light distribution by permitting light to enter through the open corners. Air circulation through the cubicle is improved since the open rear corners permit air to circulate from beside and behind the cubicle, as well as from the front and top.

In addition to structural advantages, the study carrel provides a number of psychological advantages as well. It is readily apparent that the closed in feeling attendant to the normal, fully enclosed, cubicle is entirely avoided. At the same time, the student has a more diverse field of vision while occupying and using the study carrel. These and other factors increase the efficiency of the student utilizing the carrel and making the entire study session a more pleasant experience.

These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a study carrel illustrating the position of the various walls and table p;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the study carrel illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the study carrel illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the study carrel ilustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the study carrel illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of yet another modification of the study carrel illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing FIGURES 1 and 2 best illustrate the overall construction of the study carrel. A table top, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, may be of any suitable configuration, but it is preferred that such table top be in rectangular form. Table top 10 is supported from a floor or other surface 12 in any suitable manner, as by legs 14 secured to the underside of the table top 10. The legs are provided with outwardly directed feet 16 having adjustable leveling pads 18 secured therein in the usual fashion.

Extending upwardly from the side edges of the table top 10 are side walls, indicated generally by the numeral 20. Side walls 20 may be of any suitable shape to provide enclosure means for the student working at the table top 10. For example, and as illustrated in the drawing, side walls 20 may include forward edges 22 that are upwardly and forwardly directed so that the side walls extend slightly forwardly of the table top 10. Side walls 20 are secured to the table top in and suitable manner, as by wood screws or the like.

Extending upwardly from the rear edge of the table top 10 is a back member, illustrated generally by the numeral 24. Back member '24 may be of any suitable shape so as to provide enclosure means for the rearward portion of the table top 10. Back member 24 is secured to the table top 10 in any suitable manner, as by wood screws or the like.

Extending between the side walls 20, and in spaced parallel relation to the table top 10, is a shelf member 26 adapted to receive supplies and equipment. that might be used in conjunction with the study carrel by the student.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that the rearward edges 28 of the side walls 20 are directed upwardly and forwardly from their juncture with the side edges 30 of the back member 24. This provides an upwardly diverging opening, illustrated by the numeral 32, at each of the rear corners of the study carrel for improved sound absorption, lighting and air circulation above the table top 10.

A modification of the above-described structure is illustrated in FIGURE 5 wherein table top 10 is supported on legs 14 and is provided with side walls, illustrated generally =by thet numeral 34. A rear wall 36 extends upwardly from the rear of table top 10. However, rear wall 36 is provided with side edges 38 that diverge upwardly and inwardly from the generally vertical rearward edges 40 of the side walls 34. Such divergence of side edges 38 provides openings 42 at the rearward corners of the table top 10. Shelf 26 provides a convenient means for storage of supplies and equipment.

FIGURE 6 illustrates yet another modification of the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4, wherein table top 10, supported on legs 14, is provided with side wall members 44 and a rear wall 46. A shelf 26 extends between side walls 44. The rearward edges 48 of side walls 44 extend upwardly and outwardly from the rear wall 46, and the side edges 50 of the rear wall 46 extend upwardly and inwardly from the side walls 44, thus providing openings 52 at the rearward corners of the enclosure.

Thus, a study carrel is provided which is of improved construction to avoid the sound, light and circulation problems attendant those study cubicles generally known in the art. By providing open rear corners in the carrel enclosure, sound absorption is optimized, shadows and glare are eliminated, and air is allowed to circulate. All of these factors contribute greatly to the efficiency of the student. Psychological advantages are provided, particularly in avoiding any closed in feeling on the part of the student, and making the use of such a study carrel a more pleasant experience.

Modifications and alterations in the structure or the various parts will occur to those having skill in the art, after having had reference to the foregoing description and drawing. However, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention -by the foregoing description and drawing, but by the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invent-ion in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A study carrel comprising:

a table top having sides and a back meeting at rearward corners;

means supporting said table top;

side walls extending upwardly from said sides of said table top and having rearward edges;

a back wall extending upwardly from said back of said table top and having side edges;

said rearward edges of said side walls and said side edges of said back wall being immediately adjacent to each other at said rearward corners of said table top, at least one of said adjacent rearward edges of said side wall and said side edges of said back wall diverging from the other thereof to define openings extending upwardly from said rear corners of said table top.

2. The study carrel set forth in claim 1 wherein said rearward edges of said side members are directed upwardly and forwardly from said rear corners.

3. The study carrel set forth in claim 1 wherein said side edges of said back member are directed upwardly and inwardly from the sides of said table top. 4. The study carrel set forth in claim 1 wherein said rearward edges of said side members are directed up wardly and forwardly from said rear corners and said side edges of said back member are directed upwardly and inwardly from the sides of said table top.

5. The study carrel set forth in claim 1 and further including a shelf member extending between said side members and above said table top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 189,919 3/1961 MacLean D33-7 D. 200,649 3/ 1965 Johnson D337 806,965 12/1905 Field 108-59 1,563,381 12/1925 Larmore 312140.4 1,810,618 6/1931 Nelson 108-60 2,034,261 3/1936 MacDonald 312\239 2,305,244- 12/ 1942 Erickson 108-96 2,938,633 5/1960 Schmidt 10810l 2,970,874 2/1961 Honeycutt 10860 3,117,535 1/1964 Hendrickson 10860 3,181,920 5/1965 Burr 108-61 3,211,506 10/1965 Levy 312-239 FOREIGN PATENTS 844,324 8/ 1960 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A STUDY CARREL COMPRISING: A TABLE TOP HAVING SIDES AND A BACK MEETING AT REARWARD CORNERS; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID TABLE TOP; SIDE WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID SIDES OF SAID TABLE TOP AND HAVING REARWARD EDGES; A BACK WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BACK OF SAID TABLE TOP AND HAVING SIDE EDGES; SAID REARWARD EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID BACK WALL BAEING IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AT SAID REARWARD CORNERS OF SAID TABLE TOP, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ADJACENT REARWARD EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALL AND SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID BACK WALL DIVERGING FROM THE OTHER THEREOF TO DEFINE OPENINGS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID REAR CORNERS OF SAID TABLE TOP. 